Jacksonville Suns Information

Another 11-game homestand starts at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Pensacola comes to town for a five-game series, followed by a six-game visit from the Birmingham Barons.

The Suns are 50-44 overall, a season-high six games over .500. At 14-10 in the second half, Jacksonville is second in the South Division of the Southern League, a game-and-a-half behind Huntsville.

The Suns just took four of five from the Tennessee Smokies.

“Now we’re going home for 11 games with a chance to go on a run starting with this homestand and make something happen in the second half,” Jacksonville manager Andy Barkett said.

The Suns will have Miami Marlins relief pitcher A.J. Ramos for several more games. Ramos is on a rehab assignment, recovering from right shoulder inflammation. Ramos is a former Sun and posted a 1.44 ERA and 21 saves in 2012. When Jacksonville’s season ended that year, Ramos earned his first major-league call-up, and he’s been with the Marlins ever since.

Ramos worked one inning Monday against the Smokies, allowing one run on two hits. It was his first action since being placed on the disabled list on June 27.

“I thought he was a little rusty, but his stuff had good action at times,” Barkett said. “You saw the big-league stuff that makes him so good. He hasn’t been out on the mound in a long time facing hitters. He’ll be back out in a couple days, and I’m sure he’ll be sharper in his next outing.”

With the Marlins this season, Ramos is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA in 39 appearances. His four wins are already the most he’s had in a season, and his ERA is the lowest of any of his three years in Miami. He also has 12 holds, proving to be a solid setup man for closer and former Sun Steve Cishek. Before going on the DL, Ramos had a 0.64 ERA for the month of June.

With Suns pitcher Chipper Smith on the DL, Jay Rogers (4-2, 4.06) will likely get the call to start the first game of the Pensacola series.